A crovvne garland of goulden roses Gathered out of Englands royall garden. Being the liues and strange fortunes of many great personages of this land. Set forth in many pleasant new songs and sonetts neuer before imprinted. By Richard Iohnson.

The life and death of famous Th. Stukely, an English gallant in the time of Queene Eliza∣beth, who ended his dayes in a battaile of Kings in Barbarie.

To the tune of King Henries going to Bullin.

IN the west of England, borne there was I vnderstand: A famous gallant liuing in his dayes. by birth a wealthy Clothiers sonne, Deeds of wonder he hath done, to purchase him a long and lasting praise.

If I should tell his story, pride was all his glory: And lusty Stuekly he was cald in court. he serud a Bishop of the west, And did accompany the best maintaining still him selfe in galant sort.

Being thus esteemed, and euery where well deemed:

He gaind the fauour of a London dame: daughter to an Alderman, Curtis he was called than, to whom a sutor gallantly he came.

When she his person spied, he could not be denied So braue a Gentle man he was to see, she was quickly made his wife: In weale or woe to lead her life, her father willingly did so agree.

Thus in state and pleasure, ful many daies they measure: Till cruell death with his regardles spight: bore old Curtis to his graue, A thing that Stukely wisht to haue, that he might reuell all in gold so bright.

He was no sooner toombed, but Stukely presumed: To spend a hundred pound that day in wast: the brauest gallants of the land, Had Stukelies purse at their command, thus merily the time away he past.

Tauerns and Ordinaries, were his cheefest braueries, Goulden angells flew there vp and downe: r••••ts were his best delight, With stately feastings day and night, in court and Citty thus he won renowne.

Thus wasting land and liuing, by this his lawlesse giuing: At last he sould the pauements of his yard: which couered were with blocks of tin, Old Curtis left the same to him, which he consumed vainely as you heard.

Where at his wife sore greeued, desird to be relceued, Make much of me deere husband she did say, Ile make much more of thee quoth he, then any one shall verily, Ile ••ell thy clothes, and so will go my way.

Cruelly thus hearted, away from her he parted, And trauelled to Italy with speed, there he slorisht many a day In his silkes and rich aray:

and did the pleasures of a Lady feed.

It was this Ladies pleasure, to giue him gold and treasure, And to maintaine him in great pomp and faine at last came newes assuredly. Of a batlaile fought in Barbary, and he would valiantly go see the same.

Many a noble gallant, sould both land and tallant: To follow Stukely to this famous fight: whereas three Kings in person would, Aduentrously with courage bould, within the battaile shew themselues in sight,

Stukely and his followers all, of the King of Portugall, Had entertainement like to gentlemen, the King affected Stukely so, That he his secrets all did know: and bore his royall standard now and then.

Upon this day of honour, each King did shew his banner, Morocco and the King of Barbery,

Portugall with al his traine, Brauely glistred on the plaine: and gaue the onset there most valiantly.

The Cannons they resounded, thundring drums rebounded: Kill, kill, as then was all the soldiers cry, mangled men lay on the grownd, And with blood the earth was dround, the sun was likewise darkened in the skye

Heauen was sore displeased, and would not be appeased: But tokens of Gods heauy wrath did show: that he was angry at this war, He sent a fearefull blazing star, wherby these Kings might their misfortunes know

Bloody was this slaughter, or rather wilfull murther: Whhere six score thousand fighting men was slaine, three Kings within this battaile died, With forty Dukes and Carles beside, the like will neuer more be fought againe.

With woful armes infoulding,

Stukely stood beholding This bloody sacrifice of soules that day: he sighing said I wofull wight, Against my Conscience heere did fight, and brought my followers all vnto decay.

Being thus molested, and with greefes oppressed, These braue Italians that did sell their lands with Stukely thus to trauell forth, And venture liues for little worth, vpon him al did lay their murthering hands.

Unto death thus wounded, his heart with sorrow sounded: And to them all he made this heauy mone, thus haue I left my contry deere, To be so vildly murthered heere: euen in this place wheras I am not known.

My wife I haue much wronged, for what to her belonged: I vainely spent in idle course of life. what I haue done is past I sée, And bringeth naught but greefe to me, therfore grant now thy pardon gentle wife.

Life I see consumeth, and death I feele presumeth: To change this life of mine into a new: yet this me greatest comfort brings, I liu'd and died in loue of Kings, and so braue Stukely bids the world adew.

Stukelies life thus ended, was after death befrended, And like a soldier buried gallantly. where now there stands vpon his grauē, A stately temple builded braue: with golden Turrets peircing in the skye.

FINIS.